System and method for providing transaction-based profit solutions

ABSTRACT

A method and system for generating profit having a partner transaction module configured to charge a partner transaction fee for a transaction performed by a partner, and receive, from a partner, payment for the partner transaction fee when the partner performs a transaction, a base transaction module configured to pay, in the event the partner performs a transaction through a third party, a base transaction fee to the third party, wherein the base transaction fee is equal to or lesser than the partner transaction fee, and a profit module configured to receive a profit on the transaction, wherein the profit is the difference between the partner transaction fee and the base transaction fee.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/020,379, filed Jun. 27, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/250,838, filed Oct. 14, 2008, which areincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

On-line shopping has become extremely popular with consumers. Itprovides a convenient way for people to purchase a variety of productsand services without leaving the home or office. When offering items orservices for sale, a vendor may use a website to present its products orservices to customers browsing that website. However, such a businessmodel may insist that a customer already know the vendor's website or beable to find the website via a search engine. In addition, in order tosecure an order for a particular service (e.g., spa treatment and otherrelated service), for example, a vendor may use a singular, stand-alonereservation system that is only available on its website. Not only doesthis make it difficult to attract new customers, but such a techniquemay not adequately rate or compare these products/services with othercomparable products/services, which may limit customer confidence.Furthermore, a stand-alone reservation system that is not linked with orsafeguarded by other systems or methods may be prone to error andmismanagement. As a result, current on-line systems and methods may lackcomprehensive and effective web-based management solutions particularlyadvantageous for booking appointments, attracting new customers, gainingcustomer confidence, increasing sales/profits, and improving customerretention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the exemplaryembodiments, reference is now made to the appended drawings. Thesedrawings should not be construed as limiting, but are intended to beexemplary only.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustration of a system architecture for providingweb-based management solutions, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative interface for providing bookingmanagement solutions, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative interface for ordering a package,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative interface for booking a reservation,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative interface for booking a reservation,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative interface providing integratedpoint-of-sale services, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative interface for collecting billing/paymentinformation, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative backend interface for reviewing order,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative interface for reviewing an order,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative interface of an order confirmation,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative backend interface for customizingappointment and notification settings, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managingappointments, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managingfacilities, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing services,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managingemployees, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing employeeinformation, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing employeeschedules, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing employeeservices, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing employeehistory, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 depicts an illustrative backend interface of various accesslevels, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 21 depicts an illustrative backend interface of various accesslevels, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managingspecials/promotions/coupons, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 23 depicts an illustrative interface for a management solutionimbedded at a partner website, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 24 depicts an illustrative interface for a management solutionimbedded at a partner website, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 25 depicts an illustration of a system architecture for processingtransactions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 26 depicts a illustrative flowchart of a method for processingtransactions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments may provide a system and method for providingweb-based management solutions. That is, exemplary embodiments may,among other things, expand and optimize business and marketing bycomprehensively and effectively providing web-based management solutions(e.g., booking reservations, customer/employee/inventory management,payments, marketing, etc.) for any organization that providetime-dependent services.

Spas and spa-related services are becoming increasingly popular. Infact, there may be a variety of different spas and salons tailored tothe preferences of each customer. For example, these may includeresort/hotel spas, destination spas, casino spas, club spas, cruise shipspas, mineral springs spas, medical/dental spas, connoisseur spas, dayspas, beauty salons, and spa lifestyle real estate. Whatever the choice,a first-time spa-goer or a seasoned spa-goer may be able to enjoy ashort or long escape from the busyness of life and enhance overallwell-being through professional services that encourage the renewal ofmind, body, and spirit.

However, as discussed above, current systems may fail to providecomprehensive and effective web-based management solutions. Thus,embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a management solutionthat utilizes a centralized system for booking appointments, managingemployees/customers, integrating point-of-sale services, attracting newcustomers, gaining customer confidence, and improving customerretention. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide abusiness solution that maximizes sales/profits by using an integratedfee transaction process between banks and merchant card processors.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should beappreciated that the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts. It should be appreciatedthat the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and explanatoryonly and are not restrictive.

It should be appreciated that the exemplary systems and methods arediscussed in terms of “spas” and/or “spa-related” products/services. Itshould also be appreciated that as used herein, a “spa” or “spa-related”may refer to any type of health and beauty services. For example, thesemay include products/services related to health, medicine, skin, hair,nail, cosmetics, and other similar products/services. In addition, thesemay include salon or salon-related products/services. Other variousembodiments may also be provided.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustration of a system architecture for providingmanagement solutions, according to an exemplary embodiment. It should beappreciated that system 100 is a simplified view for providingmanagement solutions and may include additional elements that are notdepicted. As illustrated, the system 100 may comprise a user interfacedevice from which a user, such as a partner (e.g., spa) or a customer(e.g., potential spa-goer), may connect to a Management Solution System122 via a network 120.

The user interface device may include a computer 110, a laptop/notebook112, a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA) 116, or othersimilar device 118, such as a server or server-like system, a module, asmart phone, a wireline phone, a satellite phone, etc. Although a userinterface device may typically be directed to those having computing orcommunication capability, it should be appreciated that other varioussystems/devices may also be used. These may include MP3 players, videoplayers, personal media players, personal video recorders (PVR),watches, gaming consoles/devices, navigation devices, televisions,printers, and/or other devices capable of receiving and/or transmittingsignals. It should be appreciated that the communications device/systemmay be mobile, handheld, or stationary. It should also be appreciatedthat the communications device/system may be used independently or maybe used as an integrated component in another device and/or system.Other various embodiments may also be realized.

The user interface device may connect to the network 120 in a variety ofways, such as via wired or wireless broadband connection. In oneembodiment, wired broadband connection may include long-range opticaldata communications, local area network based protocols, wide areanetworks, and/or other similar applications. In another embodiment,wireless broadband connection may include long-range wireless radio,local area wireless network such as 802.11 based protocols, wirelesswide area network such as WiMax, and/or other similar applications. Forexample, communication between the various components of system 100 maybe achieved via transmission of electric, electromagnetic, optical,and/or wireless signals and/or packets that carry digital data streamsusing a standard telecommunications protocol and/or a standardnetworking protocol. These may include modem dial-up, Session InitiationProtocol (SIP), Voice Over IP (VOIP) protocols, Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Enhanced MessagingService (EMS), Short Message Service (SMS), Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) based systems, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)based systems, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet (TCP/IP)Protocols. Other protocols and/or systems that are suitable fortransmitting and/or receiving data via packets/signals may also beprovided. For example, cabled network or telecom connections such as anEthernet RJ45/Category 5 Ethernet connection, a fiber connection, atraditional phone wireline connection, a cable connection or other wirednetwork connection may also be used. Communication between the networkproviders and/or subscribers may also use standard wireless protocolsincluding IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, etc., or via protocols for awired connection, such as an IEEE Ethernet 802.3. Other variousembodiments may also be provided.

The network 120 may be any network, such as a local area network (LAN),a wide area network (WAN), a service provider network, theInternet/World Wide Web, or other similar network, or a combinationthereof. It should be appreciated that the network may use electric,electromagnetic, and/or optical signals that carry digital data streams.

The Management Solution System 122 may include a network-based userinterface, such as a web-based Graphic User Interface (GUI) 124, fromwhich a user interface device may connect via the network 120. Theweb-based GUI 124 may be communicatively coupled to a ManagementSolution Module 126. The Management Solution Module 126 may also becommunicatively coupled to one or more databases (e.g., DB1 132 a, DB2132 b, and DBN 132 n, where N may represent any number). While shown asseparate databases, it should be appreciated that the contents of thesedatabases, as depicted in FIG. 1 , may be combined into fewer or greaternumbers of databases and may be stored on one or more data storagesystems. Other data and/or information may also be stored and/orobtained from these databases. Other variations and/or components mayalso be provided.

It should be appreciated that the architecture of system 100 may havevarious embodiments. For example, not all system components may bewithin the Management Solution System 122. Instead, one or morecomponents, servers, devices, and/or databases of the system 100 may belocal or remote to the Management Solution System 122. It should also beappreciated that the Management Solution System 122 may be duplicatedand/or maintained at various locations. Other various embodiments mayalso be realized.

The Management Solution Module 126 may be the central processing logicof the Management Solution System 122. The Management Solution Module126 may include one or more processors or processing logic (e.g.,modules) to manage various business functions and features, such asprocessing orders, reserving appointments, scheduling employee/customerschedules, coordinating billing and receiving payments, managingpayroll, etc. For example, a Management Solution Module 126 may displaythese features to a partner and/or customer at a user interface device.

While one configuration is shown in FIG. 1 , it should be appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art that other configurations of thesevarious modules may also be possible. For example, in one embodiment,for ubiquitous accessibility, the Management Solution System 122 may beimplemented as a web-based module by utilizing a 3-tier architecture.The first tier may represent a user interface tier that includes, forexample, the web-based GUI 124. The second tier may include the businesslogic tier that includes, for example, the Management Solution Module126. The third tier may represent a database tier that includes, forexample, DB1 132 a, DB2 132 b, and DBN 132 n, or other similar database.Other various configurations and designs may also be realized. Inanother embodiment, the Management Solution Module 126 of the ManagementSolutions System 122 may be comprised of several modules or may becoupled to one or more additional modules, each configured to perform afeature/function of the system 100. For example, the Management SolutionModule 1216 may be coupled to a Reporting Module to generate customreports, an Employee Management Module to manage employees (e.g.,employee information, specialties, billing rates, schedules, payroll,etc.), a Facilities Management Module to manage availability of rooms orspa facilities, etc. Other various embodiments may also be realized.

In one embodiment, for example, a partner (e.g., a spa) may access theManagement Solution System 122 via a user interface device to inputvarious information. This information may be related to the partner(e.g., the spa, history of the spa, location, hours, services/treatmentsoffered, deals, products, room availability, etc.), employee/technicianinformation (e.g., personal information of an massage therapist employedby the partner other employee information, such weekly/monthly schedule,specialties and/or services, etc.), and other related information.Having all this information centralized, the Management Solution System122 may provide a comprehensive system tailored and customized to eachparticipating partner and its needs (e.g., booking reservations, etc.).Such a system may eliminate (or reduce) a need to synchronize variouscalendar information on various systems and therefore provide a secureand efficient way to manage appointments for participating partners. TheManagement Solution System 122 may include additional features/functionsas well. These may include employee management, customer management,facilities management, product bundling, specials/promotions creation,point-of-sale services, etc.

In one example, a customer/user (e.g., a spa-goer) may access theManagement Solution System 122 via a user interface device to viewvarious “Day Spas” in his or her neighborhood, ratings of these spas,services, prices, availability, etc. The customer may interact with theManagement Solution Module 126, via the web-based GUI 124, to select andbuild a personal/custom spa package from one or more partners.

For example, a catalog of products, services, and/or popularproducts/services may be displayed by the Management Solution System122, e.g., via an item presentation module, in which one or more usercriteria may be entered/linked and received. FIG. 2 depicts anillustrative interface for providing web-based booking managementsolutions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Inthis example, an on-line booking system site 200 may be provided. Theon-line booking system site 200 may include a listing/menu of links 210,a catalog of items (e.g., products and/or services, such as “Day Spas”220, “Getaway Spas” 230, etc.), and one or more advertisements (e.g., AD1, AD 2, AD 3, etc.). The listing/menu of links 310 may include variouslinks to additional data. For example, link 210 may include links to“find” various spas, to see “featured” spas, to see the most recent“deals,” to browse available “gift” options, to learn more “info,” tolearn “about” spas, to “subscribe” to one or more newsletters, and or“other” various links. The “Day Spas” 220 and “Getaway Spas” 230 mayprovide various products and/or services offered by the ManagementSolution System 122 from various partners. One or more advertisementsmay be presented to target customers in order to generate more businessand/or profits. Other various configurations/embodiments may also beprovided.

It should be appreciated that for each of the items presented in theon-line booking system site 200, a user may enter criteria for one ormore items by clicking a radio button, selecting a link, and/or fillingone or more fields for a search. It should also be appreciated that usercriteria may not necessarily be inputted. For example, in oneembodiment, user criteria may be information automatically generated.For instance, when a customer logs into a personalized account, his orher profile may be automatically pulled and the one or more itemsreceived may be based on this profile. These may include his or hertransaction history, preferences, purchases, browsing habits, surveyresults, etc. It should be appreciated that the profile information mayalso be used to present recommendations, specials, promotions, deals,and/or discounts tailored to the customer. In another embodiment, usercriteria may be based on one or more surveys. For example, a user mayhave previously submitted responses to one or more surveys and thesystem 100 may receive items based on these responses. In yet anotherembodiment, user criteria may be information/data received from avariety of other sources, such as targeted emailers, previous merchantaffiliations, recommendations of people who know the user, etc. Thus,user criteria may be based on user input and/or other sources. Othervarious embodiments may also be realized.

When one or more items are identified (e.g., either by user input orother way), the user may also scroll up and down each category to findthe items desired to be included in the site 200. In one embodiment, forexample, a user may use a search feature to specify and/or narrow asearch for a particular product and/or service. For example, a user mayenter a partner name (e.g., name of spa), location (e.g., zip code,address, county, country, etc.), season, price range, and/orproduct/service (e.g., spa treatment, etc.). In another embodiment, adetailed description of each item may also be provided via hyperlink,mouseover, or other similar feature. Other various embodiments may alsobe provided.

Here, the Management Solution System 122 may then display the one ormore items (e.g., products and/or services) for user selection. FIG. 3depicts an illustrative interface for ordering a package, according toan exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example, thescreenshot may provide an on-line booking system site 200 including alist of one or more items 320 based on user criteria and/or other data.For instance, a user may have entered the following criteria “pedicure,”“massage,” and “20006” to yield the list of one or more spas 320.Similar to FIG. 2 , the user may scroll up and down to find a desiredproduct and/or service. Here, the user may see several spas that fit hisor her search criteria: “Urban Day Spa,” “Spa in DC,” “Super Fun DaySpa,” etc. Each item listed may have a name of the partner, a rating(e.g., star or other similar mark), brief description, and/or one ormore links for more information. Other various embodiments may also beprovided.

The Management Solution System 122 may receive one or more userselections to form a spa sales package. It should be appreciated thatthe customer may directly or indirectly build a spa package. Forexample, in one embodiment, the Management Solution Module 126 maypresent information (e.g., telephone number, email, website, etc.) ofone or more partners so that a customer may contact a desired partnerand build a spa package with that information. In this example, anemployee of the partner may receive the order and enter information intothe Management Solution System 122, may view and select from a variousemployees, timeslots, treatments/services, products, etc., and order thepackage for the customer.

In another embodiment, the customer may directly form and order apackage from the on-line booking system 200. For example, referring backto FIG. 3 , the “Spa in DC” may be highlighted 325 and may be selectedby the user to begin the on-line process to order one or more productsand/or services from the partner through the Management Solution System122. For instance, the customer may click on “Make reservations” at theon-line booking system 200. Once the customer selects this option, areservation window for Spa in DC may be presented to the customer.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative interface for booking a reservation,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example,a “Make Reservation” window 420 may be presented to the customer. Inthis window 420, the customer may be presented the ability to make areservation/appointment by searching for availability of atechnician/specialist (e.g., an employee of the participating partner),treatment/service, facility, or other category. It should also beappreciated that the customer may make the reservation/appointment formore than one party. For example, as depicted in the reservation window420, the customer may make a reservation/appointment for two or more“guests.” Here, a “Doctor's Orders” massage may be selected for “Guest1,” and a “Basics Package” facial may be selected for “Guest 2.” A dateof “07/05/08” may also be selected. It should be appreciated that avariety of other functions and features may also be provided, such asadditional availability search features, etc.

Once the customer enters these user selections, availability based onthese selections may be processed and/or additional information may berequested. For example, FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative interface forbooking a reservation, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. Here, the user selections provided by the customer have beenprocessed and the on-line booking system 200 may provide a reservationswindow 520 with additional user selections, such as time andspecialist/technician selections. In this example, the customer mayselect “1:30 PM” from a list of available times. In addition, thecustomer may select “Joe A. Smith” for the “Doctor's Orders” massage and“Jane Doe” for the facial. It should be appreciated that all theavailable time slots and/or specialists/technicians may be based onpreviously entered information. It should be appreciated that othervariations may also be provided. For example, the customer may havestarted by selecting the specialist/technician, room/facilities at thespa, available date/time slots, etc. For example, Joe A. Smith may be atop-rated masseur for “Spa in DC.” His profile, gender, schedule,specialties, and other information (e.g., freelancer, check/credit/cashpayment, and other similar data) may be stored in the database so that acustomer looking for these qualifications may be able to locate Joe A.Smith (if available). Other various embodiments may also be realized.

Once these additional user selections are entered, the one or morereservations may be processed by the Management Solutions System 122. Itshould be appreciated that point-of-sale services may also be provided.In addition to booking appointments, the centralized Management SolutionSystem 122 may provide point-of-sale services where variousproducts/items may also be purchased. Similar to the way reservationsare booked, a customer may directly access the on-line system toidentify one or more items/products (e.g., lotions, gift certificates,massage stones, etc.) to include in his/her spa sales package or mayhave an employee (e.g., receptionist, sales clerk, etc.) of aparticipating partner take the order for the customer through theon-line system. For example, FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative backendinterface 600 providing integrated point-of-sale services, according toan exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example, a “spacashier” (e.g., employee of the spa) taking this order from the customermay also offer various products for sale to the customer from anappointments window 610 on the backend interface 600. Here, the spacashier may view the current customer order and choose from a list ofspa-offered products directly from the appointments window 610 at thebackend interface 600 of the on-line booking system, as depicted in FIG.6 . It should be appreciated that a catalog of products, services,and/or popular products/services may be displayed. For example, asdepicted in FIG. 6 , the customer may choose from a variety of products,such as “Skin Glo,” “Hair Snare,” “Body Refresh,” etc. Here, thequantity may be specified and additional product search may be providedas well. Although depicted from a backend interface perspective, itshould be appreciated that point-of-sale services may also be providedvia the on-line booking system 200 with which the customer may interact.

Once the spa package is formed, the customer may begin to processpayment for the package. FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative interface forcollecting billing/payment information, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure. In this example, a customer may bepresented a billing information window 720 at the on-line booking system200. Here, the billing information window 720 may allow the customer toenter his/her billing information, such as name, address, telephonenumber, email address, credit card information, etc. It should beappreciated that in the event the customer has previously setup acustomer profile, this information may be automatically filled/enteredfor the customer.

Similar to FIG. 6 , in the event that the customer is finalizing his/herorder through an employee (e.g., sales clerk or cashier) of the partnerspa, the spa cashier may use the on-line system from a backend side toreview and process the customer's order package. For example, FIG. 8depicts an illustrative backend interface for reviewing orders,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example,the order package formed by the customer (e.g., “Spa Goer”) may have atotal price of “$315.00.” Furthermore, in addition payment by creditcard or gift certificate, the customer may also pay by “cash,” “check,”and/or “post to room/tab/account” (e.g., if the spa is associated to ahotel or other account carrier). In the event payment is made by creditcard or other card, the cashier may swipe/scan/read the customer'scredit card or enter the card manually. It should be appreciated thatone or more hardware devices for swiping/scanning/reading such cards maybe connected the user interface device to assist in performing thesefeatures/functions. Other various embodiments may also be realized.

It should also be appreciated that coupons/promotional discounts mayalso be submitted here. Gift certificates may be provided (e.g., sold)by and for use at the Management Solutions System 122. For example, inone embodiment, customers may purchase gift certificates useable for anyof the participating partners associated with the system 100. TheManagement Solution Module 126 may coordinate with various partners sothat the gift certificates may be universally applied to one or moreorders associated with a participating partner. Such a feature may allowcustomers the option of using their gift certificates not only at onepartner but from various partners at their choosing. This may alsoprovide additional business opportunities and/or benefits. It should beappreciated that gift certificates issued by the system 100 may becustomized and may be redeemable similar to cash. Other variousembodiments may also be realized. This and other additional methods ofpayment may provide comprehensive service to customers an effective wayto receive payment.

Once payment is accepted, an instant notification may be provided by theManagement Solution System 122. For example, FIG. 9 depicts anillustrative interface for reviewing an order, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure. In this example, the on-line bookingsystem 200 may display an order review window 920, which may include theappointment location(s), caregiver(s), date(s)/time(s), price(s),calculated discount(s) (if any), associated terms and condition (ifany), sales tax, and/or other similar information. The customer mayreview his or her options and decide, for example, whether to finalizethe order, e.g., by selecting “Finalize Order of Package,” add, change,decline, restart, and/or to perform other actions. In anotherembodiment, the customer may make additions and/or changes to the custombundle. It should be appreciated that various display options and orderfeatures may also be provided.

Once the order is finalized, the customer may receive a notificationconfirming the order and the reservations as well as a paper receipt insome cases. FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative interface of an orderconfirmation, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

It should be appreciated that, in addition to the order confirmation,the Management Solution System 122 may also communicate with the partnerand/or customer regarding a scheduled appointment and/or one or moreorders. These may include various customizable notification alertsand/or messages (e.g., emails, text messages, voicemails, RSS, and/orother notification protocols). Changes, cancellations, and otherrequests may also be processed by the Management Solution System 122 ina real-time or near real-time manner. As a result, scheduling andreservations may be performed efficiently and accurately. Although thebooking systems and methods may be operated mostly electronically and/orautomatically, it should be appreciated that administrative oversightmay be implemented to reduce error and optimize performance.

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative backend interface for customizingappointment and notification settings, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure. In this example, electronic notificationsmay be customized by a participating partner according to varioussettings. These may include email address, whether a customer may beable to reply or not, a reply email address, and/or othernotification/appointment settings and related information. Although FIG.11 depicts a “Spa Admin” customizing the settings, it should beappreciated that various levels of access and/or privileges may beafforded to others as well, such as the technician/specialist,receptionist, etc.

FIG. 12 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managingappointments, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Inthis example, the “Spa Manager” may view schedules of one or moreemployees of the participating partner (e.g., spa) in a singularcalendar format 1210. Here, the calendar 1210 may present thereservations/appointments 1215 for the “guests” of “Spa Goer,” asdescribed above, under the schedules of “Jane Doe” and “Joe A. Smith.”As depicted, in one embodiment, the calendar 1210 may be in a dailyformat. In another embodiment, a weekly, monthly, and/or other similarcalendar format may also be presented.

It should be appreciated that various options may be provided to viewthe reservations/appointments. For example, a search/scroll feature maybe implemented. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that in thisbackend interface 600, changing one or more reservations/appointmentsmay be achieved by drag-and-drop capabilities, which may also be enabledby the Management Solutions System 122. Not only does this provide aneasy way to edit/change reservations/appointments, but it also allowsvarious users (e.g., partner manager, partner employee, customer, etc.)ability to customize their orders and/or reservations from one system.Accordingly, as discussed above, since the Management Solutions System122 may be centralized, common reservation errors, such asdouble-booking, may be greatly reduced if not entirely eliminated. Othervarious appointment editing capabilities may also be provided.

It should be appreciated that the backend interface 600 of theManagement Solutions System 122 may also allow reservation/appointmentviewing in other formats. For example, FIG. 13 depicts an illustrativebackend interface for managing facilities, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure. Similar to FIG. 12 , the backend interface600 of FIG. 13 may present a calendar of reservations/appointments 1310in one or more various calendar formats. However, unlike FIG. 12 , thecalendar 1310 may present appointments by viewing one or more facilitiesof the spa. For instance, the “Spa Manager” may view the availability ofvarious rooms/facilities by searching and/or scrolling through thevarious rooms/facilities. Here, as depicted, the calendar 1310 maypresent the reservations/appointments 1315 for the “guests” of “SpaGoer” as booked time slots in “Room A” and “Room B.” In this view, otherrooms/facilities may also be presented, such as “Miguel's Room,”“Serenity Room,” etc.

It should be appreciated that various options may be provided to viewthe reservations/appointments. For example, a search/scroll feature maybe implemented. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that in thisbackend interface 600, changing one or more reservations/appointmentsmay be achieved by drag-and-drop capabilities, which are also enabled bythe Management Solutions System 122.

It should be appreciated that this may be an important feature becausecertain rooms/facilities may be equipped for certainspecialties/treatments. For example, a customer may purchase anaromatherapy service. Because aromatherapy uses volatile liquid plantmaterials, known as essential oils (EOs) and other aromatic compoundsfrom plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health, aspecialized room may be requested to store these materials and/orperform such a service. In another example, a customer may purchase aFijian sport massage, which uses feet rather than hands to perform themassage. Therefore, a Fijian sport massage technician (or otherqualified employee) may use a special room to perform this service. Sucha room may be equipped with balancing beams on the walls and/or ceilingto allow the technician to perform the massage with proper weight and/orbalance. It should be appreciated that the databases of the ManagementSolution System 122 may store such room information (e.g., types ofservice it may be used for, availability, etc.) in order to providebetter management of rooms and overall customer service.

FIG. 14 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing services,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example,the “Spa Manager” may manage, via the Management Solutions System 122,the various treatments/services offered by the partner at a particularroom/facility, e.g., Room A. Here, Room A may be equipped to handle oneor more treatments, such as body services (e.g., anti-cellulitetreatment, back treatment, body polish, body wrap, facials, etc.). Itshould be appreciated that the various services depicted in FIG. 14 aremerely exemplary and should not be construed limiting. Other variousservices/treatments/specialties may also be provided. Furthermore, itshould be appreciated that in addition to managing services/treatmentsper room/facility, the “Spa Manager” may select thespecialties/services/treatments it offers according totechnician/specialist, price range, availability, necessary equipment,and/or other various categories.

With regard to information associated with scheduling (e.g., partneravailability, facilities, employees, etc.), it should be appreciatedthat the Management Solution Module 126 may coordinate with thedatabases to determine available dates, ranges of dates, times, and/orranges of time. It should also be appreciated that specialrules/treatments may be applied to days in which a partner may be closeor during holidays. For example, a first employee for a partner may havea message appointment scheduled in Room 1 at 1:00 PM that lasts for anhour until 2:00 PM. To consider adequate clean-up time, etc., the firstemployee may be scheduled as being out of service until 2:15 PM since itmay take 10-15 minutes to turn over Room 1, which may be a larger roomthan Room 2, which may only take 5-10 minutes. Therefore, the system 100may schedule an second employee who wanted to use Room 1 at 2:00 PMwould not be allowed because the system 100 may recognize that the firstemployee may be turning the room over at that time. Accordingly, theManagement Solution System 122 may have the processing logic tocoordinate with the various components of the system 100, e.g., thedatabases, to ensure smooth and accurate calendar control and booking.Other various embodiments may also be realized.

FIGS. 15 to 19 depict an illustrative backend interface for managingemployees, according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.Referring to FIG. 15 , for example, an illustrative backend interface600 for managing employees according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure is shown. In this example, the participating partner maysearch one or more employees by name, type, and/or other search criteriain an employee management window 1510. Here, a list of all employees orthose from the search may be presented. Specifically, the employees ofthe partner name be sort by name, type, address, contact information,schedule, availability, gender, etc. Other various embodiments may alsobe realized.

FIG. 16 depicts an illustrative backend interface 600 for managingemployee information, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. In this example, the participating partner may manage anemployee's personal information in an employee information managementwindow 1610. These may include name, type, pay type, leave, contactinformation, bank account information (e.g., for direct deposit),payroll information, and/or other personal information.

FIG. 17 depicts an illustrative backend interface 600 for managingemployee schedules, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. In this example, a default schedule of an employee may beset or customized in an employee schedule window 1710. Here, weekly workhours may be set. Additionally, lunch, break times, and “off” days mayalso be configured. It should be appreciated that when the partnerbusiness is closed, the backend interface 600 may not permit entry ofhours. It should be appreciated that the default schedule may be set byan administrator, manager, employee, and/or other scheduler, dependingon how the partner configures the system 100. Other various embodimentsmay also be realized.

FIG. 18 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing employeeservices, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Inthis example, specialties/treatments of an employee may be set orcustomized in a specialties/treatments window 1810. Here, similar toFIG. 14 , the various treatments/services offered by a specificemployee/specialist/technician of the partner, e.g., “Joe A. Smith” maybe managed. Here, Joe A. Smith may be equipped to handle one or moretreatments, such as body services (e.g., anti-cellulite treatment, backtreatment, and body polish) but not others (e.g., body wrap, facials,etc.). It should be appreciated that the various services depicted inFIG. 18 are merely exemplary and should not be construed as limiting.Other various embodiments may also be realized.

FIG. 19 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managing employeehistory, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In thisexample, history of an employee may be presented in an employee historywindow 1910. Here, various orders performed or to be performed may bepresented. For example, the message ordered by “Spa Goer” for one of herguests may be represented as “Order No. 10004.” The history window 1910may also indicate the status, such as “checked-in,” booked,” “paid,”“cancelled,” or other status identifier. The history window 1910 mayalso present additional information such as customer/contactinformation, what facilities were scheduled to perform the order,date/time of the appointment, and/or other similar information.Presenting all this information in one view may allow partners theability to review and analyze employee production and/or may allowemployees to control and flexibility over their own clientele.

It should be appreciated that additional employee management featuresmay be provided. For example, in one embodiment, a payroll system andmethod may be fully integrated with the system. This may allowparticipating partners to manage employees in a more comprehensive andeffective way using one system, rather than several systems, which maybe prone to error, etc. In another embodiment, a tiered billing systemmay be implemented so that various billing rates/fees for employees,specialists, and/or technicians may be managed. For example, employeemay categorized in a variety of types, such as be full-time, part-time,scheduled, freelancer, owner, student, etc. Accordingly, each employeemay have different billing rates/fees associated. Thus, a system andmethod to incorporate these aspects of management may also be important.In yet another embodiment, employee popularity may also be considered.For example, a massage therapist may be known in a particular region forher stone massages. Because of her popularity, she may draw in morebusiness for the spa as a whole. In one sense, a system that is able tomeasure this may be extremely beneficial to the spa so that she may beproperly compensated, in addition to creating a framework with which thespa may build/expand business. Other various embodiments may also berealized.

Thus, by centralizing employee information into one system (e.g., storedin the databases) may allows at least these managementfunctions/features, which may provide a business model that is not onlyflexibility (e.g., accessible from various worksites), but also reduceerrors (e.g., from synchronizing two or more systems having similarinformation) and increase efficiency.

It should also be appreciated that all or a limited amount of theinformation may be presented to the customer/user depending on the levelof access. Such a feature may be customized by the partner at theManagement Solution System 122. For example, FIGS. 20-21 depict anillustrative backend interface of various access levels, according to anexemplary embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 20 depicts an illustrativebackend interface 600 for a “Spa Manager” access level 2005, accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example, an edituser window 2010 may be presented. Here, the Spa Manager may be able toview some or all of the information of a user, including her contactinformation, email address, type of user (e.g., spa user), role (e.g.,administrative, reporting, reservationist, technician, and/or other),username, password, etc. It should be appreciated that the Spa Managermay be able to edit the information corresponding to each user in thisedit user window 2010 as desired. For example, “Spa Goer” may beassigned administrative privileges. FIG. 21 depicts an illustrativebackend interface 600 for searching users and/or corresponding accesslevels, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Here,one or more searches for user may be provided. In this case, searchresults may be presented, as depicted in the edit customer window 2110.Here, various users that match the search criteria may be presented. Inaddition, each users' name, roles (e.g., access level), username, whenaccount created, and/or other features (e.g., edit, delete, etc.) mayalso be presented. Other various categories and/or edit features mayalso be provided. It should also be appreciated that depending on therole or access level of the user, the user may be limited in his editingcapabilities. For example, “Joe S.” has “technician” privileges whichare different than that of “Spa Admin” who has “admin” privileges, whoin turn has different privileges compared to that of “Shaka K.,” who hasa “reservationist” role. It should be appreciated that a participatingpartner may set one or more various access levels to the booking system,depending on its business needs. Other various embodiments may also berealized.

In one embodiment, a setup wizard may also be provided to provide thesevarious levels of access. For example, initializing the system 100 maybe a cumbersome task. However, using an integrated setup wizard may helptransition from a business that uses several systems (e.g., web,cashier, payroll, scheduling, etc.) into a centralized ManagementSolutions System 122. Here, the partner may setup several levels ofaccess so that security is not compromised. For example, an employeeshould not be able to tamper with her payroll information. However, amanager may be able to override pricing, schedules, customerinformation, etc. In another embodiment, administrator privileges may beprovided to setup the various access levels of the system 100. Othervarious embodiments may also be provided.

It should also be appreciated that because information stored at theManagement Solution System 122 may be highly private, a variety ofadditional security measures may also be utilized. For example, thesystem 100 may utilize various security features, such as SSL 128 bitsecurity with Verisign issued certificates, etc. Furthermore, aredundant n-tier architectural structure may be implemented to reducesecurity breach, etc. Other various embodiments may also be realized,e.g., where systems may be compliant with one or more car associationsecurity guidelines (similar to Payment Card Industry (PCI) or PaymentApplication Best Practices (PABP) compliance), etc.

FIG. 22 depicts an illustrative backend interface for managingspecials/promotions, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. In the event that there are not many appointments for aparticular day, week, or month, the Management Solution System 122 mayrecognize this and collaborate with partners to generate special dealsto serve existing customers. For example, the Management Solution System122 may broadcast or publish one or more specials, deals, and/or couponsvia email, text message, Real Simple Syndication (RSS), and/or othersimilar communication.

In one embodiment, the Management Solutions System 122 may automaticallygenerate and/or manage specials/promotions according to the needs of thepartner. For example, the Management Solutions System 122 may recognizethat Mondays and Tuesdays are particular slow business days. As aresult, one or more specials/promotions for use on Mondays and Tuesdaysmay be generated to bolster business. In another embodiment, it may berecognized that business is slower during a particular season of theyear or during a particular time of day. Accordingly, the ManagementSolutions System 122 may also generate and/or manage specials/promotionsto fit these time periods as well.

Although specials and/or promotions may be automatically generated andmanaged, it should be appreciated that a partner may also manuallyspecify its needs as well and coordinate with the Management SolutionsSystem 122 to form one or more specials/promotions. Theseproducts/services may be packaged as “top picks” or “featured items” tosubsequent customers. These specials/promotions may also be used topromote customer loyalty, as well as attract new customers. Furthermore,not only would this optimize service to customers, it may also maximizesales and profits as well by maximizing schedules and resources.

Referring back to FIG. 22 , for example, the backend interface 600 mayalso provide a specials settings window 2210. The specials window 2210may allow a Spa Manager to search specials, specials codes, and or otherspecials criteria to view past, present, and/or futurespecials/promotions. The specials window 2210 may also allow the SpaManage the ability to generate a new special or promotion, reuse aprevious special, modify/update a special/promotion, etc. Here, eachspecial may have a name (e.g., “Botox Loyalty Special, “Family &Friends,” “Spring Hair Removal,” etc.), a corresponding code,dates/times with which these specials may be used/applied, and adiscount measured in at least one of a percentage, monetary unit,promotion, or combination deal. Other various embodiments may also berealized.

It should be appreciated that the features of the Management SolutionSystem may also be integrated into a partner's website to be accessed bycustomers and others. For example, FIG. 23 depicts an illustrativeinterface for a management solution imbedded at a partner website,according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In this example,a partner's website 3000 may present a link to an on-line booking system2310. FIG. 24 depicts an illustrative interface for a managementsolution imbedded at a partner website, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure. In this example, the partner website 3000may present an imbedded link to the on-line booking system 2410. Similarto FIG. 3 , a customer or visitor of the partner website 3000 may searchfor one or more spas owned by the partner, e.g., entering in the searchfield. For example, the customer may enter the following criteria“pedicure,” “massage,” and “20006” to yield the list of one or more spasin the on-line booking system window 2410. Here, as described above withrespect to FIG. 3 , the user may see several spas that fit his or hersearch criteria: “Urban Day Spa,” “Spa in DC,” “Super Fun Day Spa,” etc.Each item listed may have a name of the partner, a rating (e.g., star orother similar mark), brief description, and/or one or more links formore information. Thus, this provides another flexible feature forcustomers to book reservations and/or order one or more products from apartner. Other various embodiments may also be provided.

By using a centralized system, which may be accessible to partnersand/or clients over the network 120, appointments may be easily trackedand safeguarded from double-booking or other similar errors associatedwith systems that attempt to synchronize one booking system withanother. Nevertheless, in the event such features may be important topartners and/or customers (e.g., initial setup of the system forparticipating partners), the Management Solution System 122 mayelectronically interact with partner-side and/or customer-side softwareto identify a scheduled appointment (e.g., in calendar programs such asMicrosoft™ Outlook, LotusNotes,™ Apple™ iCal, Google™ Calendar, etc.).Other various embodiments may also be realized.

It should be appreciated that, in addition to scheduling/bookingfeatures, the system 100 may also provide additional functions. Thesemay include inventory management, financial processing, and reportingoptions, etc.

For example, in one embodiment, the system 100 may also manage partnerinventory, such as various products and/or items stored at one or morestore locations and/or warehouses. In another embodiment, the system 100may provide more in-depth financial processing in addition to payroll,billing rates, etc. These may include managing business debts, costs,overhead, and/or managing accounts receivables, etc. In yet anotherembodiment, the system 100 may generate customizable reports, which mayassist participating partners in further developing business (e.g.generate repeat business and/or attract new clientele). For example,this information may include which products/services are most popular,total appointments within a specified time, price lists of variousproducts/services, profiles of customers and/or partnertechnicians/employees, etc. Customizable reports may be provided in avariety of formats, such as Excel, HTML, PDF, XML, and other formats,etc.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a business solution thatmaximizes profits by using an integrated fee transaction process betweenbanks and partners may also be provided. For example, a merchant accountmay be understood as a contract under which an acquiring bank extends aline of credit to a merchant who wishes to accept payment cardtransactions of a particular card association brand. Without such acontract, payments by any of the major credit card brands (e.g., VISA,™MasterCard,™ etc.) may be not be accepted. In general, credit cardtransactions may be sent electronically to merchant processing bank forauthorization, capture, and/or deposit. Although credit card processingvaries from industry to industry, it should be appreciated thattransactions may be achieved by swiping/scanning/reading a credit cardthrough terminal/reader or manually entering the credit card informationin to a credit card terminal, a computer, website, or similar component.As discussed above, swiping/scanning/reading a credit card may offer alower rate, as compared to manual entry, because of the risks/errorsinvolved with manual entry.

FIG. 25 depicts an illustration of a system architecture for processingtransactions 2500, according to an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. In this example, the system architecture 2500 may include agateway 2510 connected to one or more merchant card processors 2520,which in turn may also be connected to one or more collecting banks2530.

The gateway 2510 may be a payment gateway, which may be an e-commerceservice that authorizes payments for e-commerce and/or online retailers.In other words, the payment gateway may be similar to physicalpoint-of-sale (POS) terminal located in retail stores/outlets.

The one or more merchant card processors 2520 may be one or moreseparate companies from the payment gateway. Although some merchant cardprocessors may have their own payment gateways, a merchant cardprocessor may generally use a third-party payment gateway. Here, thegateway 2510 may include a virtual terminal that allows a merchant(e.g., a partner) to securely login and key in credit card numbers orhave a shopping-cart (e.g. from a partner website) connect to thegateway via an APPLICATION PROGRAM INTERFACE (API) to allow for realtime processing from the merchant's website.

It should be appreciated that merchant accounts may charge a variety offees, some periodic, others charged on a per-item or percentage basis.In one embodiment, fees are set by the merchant account provider. Inanother embodiment, fees may be applied on a per-item or percentage feebasis, which may be passed through the merchant card processor 2520 to acollecting bank 2530 (e.g., a credit card issuing bank) according to aschedule of rates called interchange fees. These interchange fees may beset by VISA,™ MasterCard,™ etc. It should be appreciated thatinterchange fees may vary depending on card type, circumstances of thetransaction, and/or other considerations. For example, as discussedabove, if a transaction is made by swiping a card through a credit cardterminal, it may qualified for a different interchange fee category thanif the card information were manually keyed.

It should also be appreciated that monthly minimum fees may also beapplied as a way to ensure that merchants/partners pay a minimum amountin fees each month to cover costs to maintain the account and/or tocreate minimal profits. Thus, if qualified fees of a merchant/partner donot equal or exceed the monthly minimum, they may be charged up to themonthly minimum to satisfy their minimum fee requirements.

For example, a merchant/partner may have a contract with a $25.00monthly minimum fee. If all the fees for the most recent month ofprocessing total only $15.00, this merchant may be charged an additional$10.00 to meet their monthly minimum requirements. It should beappreciated that there are fees that are charged, which may not be apart of the monthly minimum, such as statement fees, etc. Monthlyminimum charges may or may not be standard.

A batch fee (also known as a batch header fee) may also be charged to amerchant/partner whenever the merchant “settles” their terminal. Forexample, settling a terminal, also known as “batching,” may occur when amerchant/partner sends completed transactions for the day to theiracquiring bank for payment. In one embodiment, this may be performedautomatically. In another embodiment, a batch may be closed everytwenty-four (24) hours. If not, a higher rate may be assessed by the oneor more merchant card processors.

Accordingly, in order to support credit card payments, many partners(e.g., spa owners) may pay credit card merchant fees (e.g., interchangefees) to various credit card companies, such as MasterCard, Visa,Discover, American Express, etc. However, because these merchant feesgenerally depend on the volume of business supported at each partner,some partners may pay upwards to 2-3% for every credit card transaction,especially if they are small spa owners. Because the Management SolutionSystem 122 is a centralized system that may support hundreds orthousands of partners, a substantially lower credit card merchant feerate may be negotiated (e.g. 1.0%). As a result, a small spa owner, whotypically pays 3.0% in credit card transaction fees, may only be charged2.0% by the Management Solution System 122 when it becomes aparticipating partner. As a participating partner, the spa may receivethe same credit card services through the system 100 and save 1.0% intransaction fees that the spa owner would have never been able tonegotiate on its own. Additionally, if the negotiated rate by the system100 is indeed 1.0%, a profit may be generated under this business modeland all parties benefit from the partnership. Furthermore, since thesefeatures may be integrated into the Management Solution System 122platform, other charges may be reduced and/or eliminated, making it moreattractive to potential partners. These may include month minimum chargefees and/or batch fees. It should also be appreciated that the ratecharged per partner may be determined based on the partner's businessvolume and/or other similar factors.

It should be appreciated that a transaction fee may be charged perorder. In addition, an agreed upon referral fee may also be charged perorder. The transaction fees and/or referral fees may be similar to thoseprovided by credit card companies (e.g., $0.05 transaction fee percharge or $2.00 referral fee). Other various fee options may also beprovided.

In some embodiments, partners may utilize the Management Solution System122 as a point-of-sale (POS) system and collect payment directly fromcustomers. Here, customers may remit payment using a variety ofpre-defined and/or custom payment types, such as cash, check, Visa,™MasterCard,™ American Express,™ Discover,™ Japan Credit Bureau (JCB),gift certificate, gift card, gift voucher, cash equivalents, etc. Othervarious payment types may also be provided.

FIG. 26 depicts a illustrative flowchart of a method for processingtransactions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.The exemplary method 2600 is provided by way of example, as there are avariety of ways to carry out methods disclosed herein. The method 2600shown in FIG. 26 may be executed or otherwise performed by one or acombination of various systems. The method 2600 is described below ascarried out by system 100 in FIG. 1 , by way of example, and variouselements of system 100 are referenced in explaining the exemplary method2600 of FIG. 26 . Each block shown in FIG. 26 represents one or moreprocesses, methods, or subroutines carried in the exemplary method 200.A computer readable media comprising code to perform the acts of themethod 2600 may also be provided. Referring to FIG. 26 , the exemplarymethod 2600 may begin at block 2610.

At block 2610, the Management Solutions System 122 may charge a partnertransaction fee for a transaction performed by a partner. At block 2620,the Management Solutions System 122 may receive, from a partner, paymentfor the partner transaction fee when the partner performs a transaction.At block 2630, the Management Solutions System 122 may pay, in the eventthe partner performs the transaction through a third party, a basetransaction fee to the third party. In this example, the basetransaction fee may be equal to or less than the partner transactionfee. At block 2640, the Management Solutions System 122 may receive aprofit on the transaction. In this example, the profit may be, at leastin part, the difference between the partner transaction fee and the basetransaction fee.

The Management Solutions System 122 may collect payment from customersutilizing a variety of different mechanisms. In some embodiments, thesemay include direct debit, automatic credit card billing, and invoicing.Other various embodiments may also be realized. In other embodiments,for example, transaction fees may be calculated by multiplying a sum ofa customer's total monthly paid orders and total monthly unpaid anduncancelled reservations by a negotiated transaction fee percentage.These transaction fees may then be added to any referral fees that acustomer has been assessed over the course of the same month or otherperiod of time. In some embodiments, referral fees may be calculated bymultiplying a pre-set value (e.g., a flat amount per reservation, apercentage of a total order, etc.) by the number of reservationsreferred by qualifying referral partners over the course of the samemonth or other period of time. Other various embodiments may also beprovided.

An advantage of web-based management solutions, according to embodimentsof the present disclosure, may include significant sales, profitability,and customer retention. In addition, a web-based solution may reduceerror in scheduling appointments and/or other time-sensitive servicesbecause of real-time or near real-time booking. Furthermore, such asystem and method may offer savings and benefits for customers thatwould otherwise not be available. For example, by relying on customers'feedback, ratings, side-by-side comparisons, data gathered from customerdemographics, etc., new product offerings may be provided based on moreaccurate assessments of customer spending behaviors and shopping trends.

It should be appreciated that while embodiments of the presentdisclosure are directed to an on-line store (e.g., a spa website) andcorresponding products and services (e.g., spa-related items) describedabove and depicted in the figures, other various implementations maybealso be provided. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure mayalso be applied to to manage operations for a health care providers(e.g., doctors, dentists, physical therapist, etc.), schools andteachers, automobile bodyshops and menchanics, restaurants, movietheaters, golf tee times, and/or other businesses that may benefit froma web-based management solutions system capable of booking reservationsand managing customers, employees, facilities, inventory,payments/accounts receivables, marketing, etc.

In the preceding specification, various embodiments have been describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, beevident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, andadditional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from thebroader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow.The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in anillustrative rather than restrictive sense.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A centralized web-based system, comprising:a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory to perform operationscomprising: managing, by a management solution system in a computingenvironment, a schedule of appointments for a plurality of serviceproviders, the computing environment including the management solutionsystem, a web-based user interface, a data storage system communicatingin a communication network over communication links, wherein managingthe schedule of appointments includes: receiving data, via the web-baseduser interface from a user, related to scheduling an appointment, thedata comprising a type of service and location information, executing asearch across the plurality of service providers to identify a subset ofservice providers offering the type of service within a radius of alocation defined by the location information, updating the web-baseduser interface to include a plurality of possible appointments for thetype of service for each service provider of the subset of the pluralityof service providers, receiving, via the web-based user interface, auser selection of an appointment from the plurality of possibleappointments, and scheduling the appointment based on the userselection, wherein the receiving, executing, updating, receiving, andscheduling are performed without navigating the user away from theweb-based user interface.
 2. The centralized web-based system of claim1, wherein the operations further comprise: storing data associated withthe appointments, wherein the data comprises a data and a time slot andat least one of a facility, a service, and a servicer.
 3. Thecentralized web-based system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: managing employee information for the plurality of serviceproviders, wherein the employee information comprises at least one ofpersonal information, employee schedule, employee services, employeeavailability, and employee history of transactions.
 4. The centralizedweb-based system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:managing payroll information for a plurality of employees associatedwith each of the plurality of service providers.
 5. The centralizedweb-based system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:automatically populating user criteria for the search based on log-ininformation associated with the user.
 6. The centralized web-basedsystem of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: building anappointment package based on the user selection and two or more servicesfor which the user scheduled the appointment.
 7. The centralizedweb-based system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:limiting the search to those facilities that are owned by a partnerspecified in the web-based user interface.
 8. A method, comprising:managing, by a management solution system in a computing environment, aschedule of appointments for a plurality of service providers, thecomputing environment including the management solution system, aweb-based user interface, a data storage system communicating in acommunication network over communication links, wherein managing theschedule of appointments comprises: receiving data, via the web-baseduser interface from a user, related to scheduling an appointment, thedata comprising a type of service and location information, executing asearch across the plurality of service providers to identify a subset ofservice providers offering the type of service within a radius of alocation defined by the location information, updating the web-baseduser interface to include a plurality of possible appointments for thetype of service for each service provider of the subset of the pluralityof service providers, receiving, via the web-based user interface, auser selection of an appointment from the plurality of possibleappointments, and scheduling the appointment based on the userselection, wherein the receiving, executing, updating, receiving, andscheduling are performed without navigating the user away from theweb-based user interface.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:storing data associated with the appointments, wherein the datacomprises a data and a time slot and at least one of a facility, aservice, and a servicer.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:managing employee information for the plurality of service providers,wherein the employee information comprises at least one of personalinformation, employee schedule, employee services, employeeavailability, and employee history of transactions.
 11. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising: managing payroll information for aplurality of employees associated with each of the plurality of serviceproviders.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: automaticallypopulating user criteria for the search based on log-in informationassociated with the user.
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:building an appointment package based on the user selection and two ormore services for which the user scheduled the appointment.
 14. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: limiting the search to thosefacilities that are owned by a partner specified in the web-based userinterface.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising oneor more sequences of instructions, which, when executed by a processor,causes a computing system to perform operations comprising: managing, bya management solution system in a computing environment, a schedule ofappointments for a plurality of service providers, the computingenvironment including the management solution system, a web-based userinterface, a data storage system communicating in a communicationnetwork over communication links, wherein managing the schedule ofappointments comprises: receiving data, via the web-based user interfacefrom a user, related to scheduling an appointment, the data comprising atype of service and location information, executing a search across theplurality of service providers to identify a subset of service providersoffering the type of service within a radius of a location defined bythe location information, updating the web-based user interface toinclude a plurality of possible appointments for the type of service foreach service provider of the subset of the plurality of serviceproviders, receiving, via the web-based user interface, a user selectionof an appointment from the plurality of possible appointments, andscheduling the appointment based on the user selection, wherein thereceiving, executing, updating, receiving, and scheduling are performedwithout navigating the user away from the web-based user interface. 16.The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, furthercomprising: storing data associated with the appointments, wherein thedata comprises a data and a time slot and at least one of a facility, aservice, and a servicer.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable mediumof claim 15, further comprising: managing employee information for theplurality of service providers, wherein the employee informationcomprises at least one of personal information, employee schedule,employee services, employee availability, and employee history oftransactions.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim15, further comprising: automatically populating user criteria for thesearch based on log-in information associated with the user.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:building an appointment package based on the user selection and two ormore services for which the user scheduled the appointment.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:limiting the search to those facilities that are owned by a partnerspecified in the web-based user interface.